Etty Hillesum

Date of Birth: January 15, 1914

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: November 30, 1943

Biography

Esther “Etty” Hillesum was a Dutch Jewish woman whose diaries and letters, written between 1941 and 1943, provide a remarkable record of her spiritual development and the horrors of the Holocaust. Born on January 15, 1914, in Middelburg, Netherlands, Hillesum moved to Amsterdam, where she studied law, Slavic languages, and psychology. Amidst the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Hillesum worked for the Jewish Council and later voluntarily joined the transit camp at Westerbork to help fellow Jews. Her writings reveal a profound contemplative spirit and a deepening relationship with God, even as she faced the atrocities of her time. Etty Hillesum died in Auschwitz on November 30, 1943.

5 Interesting Facts about Etty Hillesum

1. Etty Hillesum’s diaries were first published in 1981 under the title “Het verstoorde leven” (An Interrupted Life).

2. She studied law, Slavic languages, and psychology at the University of Amsterdam.

3. Hillesum volunteered to work at Westerbork transit camp, where she assisted and comforted fellow Jews.

4. Her diaries offer a unique perspective on the Holocaust, combining daily life observations with profound spiritual insights.

5. Etty Hillesum’s writings have been translated into multiple languages and continue to inspire readers worldwide.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Etty Hillesum

1. “Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.”

2. “Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.”

3. “Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.”

4. “I shall try to help you stop the rushing train of your thoughts, if only for a moment.”

5. “We should be willing to act as a balm for all wounds.”